Folding stroller



Aug. 9, 1949. E. R. TAYLOR 2,478,512

FOLDING STROLLE'R Filed Oct. 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y alii JNVENTOR.

dgak Taylor;

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,70E/Vex Aug 9, 1949. E. R. TAYLOR 2,478,512

FOLDING STROLLER Filed Oct. 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

' TORNEK Patented Aug. 9, 1949 untrenn- FOLDING s'rRoLLER Edgar R. .tration santa Monica, Calif'. Applicationocmber ai, 1947, serial'No. .781,778

l Y- The present invention relate-s to strollers ofthe type used for theconveyance'of rsmall children, and one of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved folding stroller that can be collapsed quickly and easily to a compact form whereby it can becarried conveniently'on public transportation vehicles orin an Vauto'mobilaor stored in a minimum of space Whennot in use.` Another object ofthe invention is to provide a folding stroller which is vso constructed 'that' itcan be collapsed with only one hand, .while holding the child andany packages in (the other hand; the spreadingbracefor holdingY the sides of the strollerV apart being folded by kicking forwardlyzagainst its center portion. One of the advantages of this arrangementis that' it eliminates the need for setting the child and 'any packages down onthe ground while'folding the stroller. and enables the strollerito be collapsed and readied for carrying more quickly than if it'were necessary `to use both hands Another advantage is that if the childis asleep, it can be picked up and held while the stroller is vcollapsed, without .being awakened Y Y l Another objectof lthe invention is to provide a stroller which is constructed to provide a pair of curved bumpers or' runners projecting Irear- Wardly behind the rear Wheels, which can bev used to engage the curb or steps when letting the'rear wheels down, whereby the stroller can be lowered gently by sliding it-down on the runners, `without jarring :the child occupying the seat. y 1 Y A further object of the invention is to provide a stroller wherein the childs legs are enclosed and yconfined by thev frame, so that they are protected againstinjury,

Another object of .the invention. is to provide a tricycle stroller which is constructed and arranged so` as tolbe stable when supported solely by the front wheel and-handle grips, as when mounting a curb; and which is further stabilized by the weight of the child.- This-Objectis ac-` complished by constructing the stroller so that theseat-and .back rest, as wellas the greater part of the frame, liebelow a line connecting the point of1ground contact of the front wheel with the handle grips. Thus, when the strollerv is being lifted vup by itsfront wheel onto av curb, the centervof gravityof the frame and the child carriedtherei n hangs I oelovirrfrthe'A line of support,and therefore lresists any tendency to overturn.

'.Another objectief the invention` is tofprovide i s'onims; (ci. 2st-42).

a stroller wherein the seat, restare made of canvas or back resurand foot other washablematerial which is detachably. secured to the frame so that, when soiled, they can `be removed quickly and easily for laundering in a washingmachine.

YStill another object ofA thelinvention is to pro-IA vide a folding stroller that iis attractive in ap-A pearance, light in wei expensive to manufacture. f I f The foregoingland other objects and advantages; of the invention will become apparent-:to those skilled lin thev art upon consideration of: the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, referencel being yhadto the accompanying drawings,in which: 'i y Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stroller confV structed in accordance with Ythe principles of the invention; Y fi Figure 2 is another perspective view ofthesame in the collapsed condition; Y, i 1 f Figure 3 is a top plan view of the stroller;

Figure 4 is a side .elevational View of the same;v Figure 5 isa rear end elevational View; and Figure 6 is an enlarged, partially sectionedsidev elevational View of the hinge connection .between the handle and the stroller body.

In the drawings, the stroller of the invention is designated in its entirety .by the referencenumera] I0 and comprises a body having a pair'of side framesections II and I2 which are pivotallyf connected at their front ends to a front wheel support casting I3. Each of the;tw'o sideframes II and I2 is Vmade of steel tubing which is'bent to form vvertically spaced, fore and aft extending upperand lower portions I4 and I5,y connectedat theirrear ends by a rearwardly curvedvertically` extending bumper portion I6.The upper .por-V tion I4 ofthe tubing is substantiallyhorizontal, while the lower portion I5 is inclined upwardly at a slight angle from its rear end.l Both the upper and lower portions Ic and I5 of each side frame are bent laterally inward at their. mid points, so that when the stroller is extended, as in Figure 1, the front end sections convergexfoiam wardly, while the rear and lower portions ofthe frame ltubing extend into suitable sockets pro-Y vided Ainthe back of the front wheel support casting I3, and are pivotally connected thereto Vfor lateral swinging `movement by pivot pins .I'I Swiveled on the 'castingsv I3Y and Aprojecting downwardly therefrom is a fork 2l), andA rotatably mounted betweenthe two side arms of Ythe fork is a rubber tired front Vwheel 2l. The airis of. the wheel 2| is `offset slightly to therearofz ght, and simple and :inj-

3I to the frame portions I4 and I5, respectively,l

for horizontal swinging movement. The bottom member 26 of each pair extends upwardlyfat' an angle from its point of attachment with the frame portion I5, and the inner ends of thetw'o p'airs of members are joined together at the mid point of the brace 24, by a rivet 32 which serves as a hinge pin. The inner ends of the two top members 25 extend somewhat beyond the hinge pin 32, and each is providedalong its front edgewith a limit stop' projection 33fwhich engages the' other mem- 'ber' tov` limit rearward folding of the braceZ to the ov-ceriter locked position shown in Figure 3, wherein the hinge pin 32 is disposed behind a line connecting the pivots 36. The bracci 24 breaks'forwrdly'from this locked position, and

can" be folded by'kickin'g" against the center por-` tion thereof, to bring the side frames Il and I2 together. y Y

Welded to the uppe'rportio'n I4 of each of the sides frames I'I, I2, just ahead of the brace 24, is" an' upwardly extending tubular post 35 which supports the back' fest for tneseat. Arm' rest 35 of bent steel tubing arewelded at 3"1' to the posts 35, and at 38' tothe' upper portions M* of the side frames |'2. Y

A Vseat 4'6"' and back rest 4I of canvas 0r" other flexible material is detachably fastened any suitable manner to the' tubular steel frame of the stroller, and is adapted to be stretched tight when the stroller is extended', as shown in' Figure 1. In the preferred method Of attaching the Scatto the frame, the side edges of the canvas panel are passed over and around thel upper tubular portion I4' of the side frames lr, r2, and are secured to the bottom` of the panel by snapfasteners 42; The' back rest 4I is also attached to the'post 35 by passing the side edges of the fabric panel1 around the post and securing th'em to the back of the panel by snapv fasteners c3. A canvas foot rest 44 is similarly attached to the lower portion I5 of each of the side frames il, I2 in the for-l wardly converging front section thereof; the' side edges of the canvas :being passed over and around the tubular framemembers and secured to the bottomv of the panel by snap fasteners 45. A strap 46l is provided to hold the child in the seat of the stroller, and the ends of the strap are looped around the anni rests 36 and dtachably Secured by snap fasteners 41. lNheri the seat 45,- back rest 4I, foot rest 424, and strap 46 become soiled, it is a. simple matter to unsnap' the fasteners and remove the fabric panels so that they can; be laundered in a washing machine.

Mounted on the back of the' stroller is a pack'- age carrier 56 comprising a fabric panel which is stitched along its bottom edge at 5I to the canvas back rest El, The side edges of the panel 5e are provided with the female elements of snap fastoners 52, arid these are adapted to Vengage companionate male elements (not shown) von the Vside edges of the Aback rest'41i where the latter passes around the posts 35. The panely 56 is made somewhat wider vthan the back rest 4 I, and

4 is therefore slack when the back rest is taut, forming a pocket of considerable capacity for carrying packages.

The stroller I0 is providedwith a handle 55 which is connected to the body frame for vertical swinging movement between the rearwardly extending operative position, shown in Figure 1, and a forwardly extending inoperative position, depicted in Figure 2. The handle 55, which will be described now A with reference toits operative position, comprises two tubular members 56 that are pivotally connected at 51 to the top end of the posts 35, and extend upwardly and rearwardly therefrom in converging relationship. Adjacent their outer ends, the members 56 are joined together by a hinge connection 60 comprising two ,ears 6I which overlap and are connected by a pin 62. Rearwardly of the hinge 5S, the members 56` are bent laterally outward and provided with handle grips 63.

The pivotedconne'ction 5'! between'each' ofthe handle members 56 and the top end of its" re'-v spective post 35 consists of aV fork 64 having: a shank which is insertedA into and welded to the bottom end of the tube 56'. The' spaced' arms of the fork 64 embrace the flat, circular head 65 ofY a fitting 66, andi are connected theretol by a;

pin 1I). The fitting 66 has a shankY 1I- wl-"lich is inserted down intothe top end of the-post :i5-rand this lshank' has a circumferential groove 'I2 formed therein. The Wall of the tube 35 is crimped into the groove`- l2 so as' to holdI the shank I'I inl the tube, while permitting the tting 66 tol swivel therein. The purpose of this arrangement isto permit the fitting 66 to accommodate the slight amount of rotation between the handle member 56 and post35 which occurs when the side frames of the stroller are brought together' to the collapsed position. Y

The handle 55 is adaptedy to be locked in its operative position byv latch mea-ns'in the' form of two detents 14; each of which is-slidably disposedy within a-bore'formed in one of the forks 64. Each ofthe detents 'I4 is urgedagainst Vthe periphery of the circular head t5 of its respective fitting 66 by a Yspring 15, andY is adapted to seat in a,- notch 16 in the head 65 to lock the handle member 56 against swinging movement about the axis' of pin 10; Y

'I'he detents 'I4 of the two pivot connections 51 are adapted to be released from the notches 'I6 by means of a pull cord 86, the ends of which', are' attached to the detents. up through the center of the tubular handle members 55` and passes fromon'e member to the other through openings 8l adjacentthe handle grips 63, leaving an exposed portion 82 which can be grasped and pulled to unseat the detente l'4- from their respective notches against the pressure of the springs 15. A tubular Vsleeve 83 is provided on the exposed portion 82 of the pull cord to form a handle for the cord.

One of the advantageous features of the invention resides in the inherent stability of the stroller when supported solely on the front wheel 2 I and handle `grips 63, as when mounting va curb. This stability derives from the fact that the greater part of the structure Aof the stroller lies below a line A-A (Figure 4) drawn through the handle grips 63 and the Ypoint of contact of the front wheel 2| with the ground, andas a, result, the center of gravity of the empty stroller is disposed well below the points of support. In addition to being stable when empty, the stroller is further stabilized by the weight `of the child The pull Acord 86 extends vrempty stroller.

`allowed to slide down on bracing means connecting iin the seat, and bypackages inthe carrieri',

vdueto the disposition and arrangement of the seat-40 and back rests 4I below the line A-'-A, whereby the center of gravity ofthe child and 'of the packages-contributes a stabilizing moment thatgis added'to the stabilizing moment ofthe To' fold the stroller IU from the extended position of Figure 1 to the ure v2, the brace 24 is kicked forwardly at its midportion to fold the side frames I l and l2 together, and at the same time, the handle 83 on the pull cord 80 is pulled to release the detents lHl from their respective notches in the members 15. When the: detents 14 have been released, the handle 55 is folded forwardly to the position shown` in Figure 2, and is secured in place by unsnapping one of the fasteners 41 and wrapping the strapV 46 around the collapsed handle, after which the end of the strap is refastened to its respective arm rest. When thus collapsed, the stroller forms a compact Ybundle which can be carried on public transportation vehicles or stowed away in a private automobile with no difficulty. The location of the pull cord handle 83 closely adjacent the handle grip 63, together with the forwardly breaking brace 24 which can be kicked forwardly with the foot to fold the side frames of the stroller together, enables the person handling the stroller to collapse it with only one hand, While holding the child and any packages in the other.

Another advantageous feature of the stroller is in the provision of the curved bumpers or runners I6 projecting rearwardly behind the wheels 22, which enable the stroller to be let down gently from high curbs. As the wheels 22 are lowered over the edge of the curb, the runners I6 engage the curb, and the stroller is thereafter the runners until the wheels touch the ground again.

While I have shown and described in considerable detail what I believe to be the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that such details are not restrictive, and that various changes may be made in the shape and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A folding stroller comprising a pair of side frames pivotally connected at their front ends to a front wheel support member for lateral swinging movementa pair of rear wheels mounted on said frames adjacent the rear ends thereof, the rear end portions of said side frames to hold the same spread apart, said bracing means being collapsible from an extended position to permit said side frames to be brought together, a handle comprising two members which are pivotally connected to said side frames for swinging movement between a rearwardly extending operative position and a forwardly extending collapsed position, said members being pivotally connected together at their outer ends, whereby the inner ends thereof are permitted to move together with said side frames when the stroller is collapsed, latch means for locking said handle members in said operative position, and means adjacent the outer ends of said handle members for releasing said locking means.

2. A folding stroller comprising a wheel supported body, a handle consisting of a pair of tubular members pivotally connected to said body collapsed position of Figat' laterally'spaced points thereon, Vand converging toza point of junction withy one another adjacent theirouter ends, saidV handle being swingable between a'rearwardly: extending operative position and `a forwardly extending inoperative position, aypair of spring pressed. detentsslidably ldisposed withinsaid tubular members and envgageable; with companionate members on said body to lockv said; handle insaid operative-position,A and a pull'cord connected at each ofrits vends to one of. Asaid detents, saidjcord extending ,through the-hollow. interior of each of said tubular membersandpassing'from one member to the other'through openings in the side walls thereof adjacent the outer end of the handle to provide an exposed portion ,that can be grasped by the hand and pulled to release said detentsfrom their respective companionate members.

, A foldingrstroller comprisingy a wheelsupported, collapsible body having sides that are normally Aspaced apart and whichA are adapted toA be brought together when thegbody is collapsed, a handle consisting of a pair of tubular members which are pivotally connected to said body sides for swinging movement .between a rearwardly extending operative position and a forwardly extending inoperative position, said members being pivotally connected together adjacent their outer ends to permit the inner ends thereof to come together with said body sides, latch means on each of said members for locking said handle in said operative position, and a pull cord operatively connected at each end thereof to one of said latch means, said pull cord extending through the hollow interior of said members and from one member to the other through openings adjacent the outer end of the handle, whereby to provide an exposed portion that can be grasped and pulled to release said latch means and permit said handle to be folded to said inoperative position.

4. A folding stroller comprising a pair of side frames pivotally connected at their front ends to a front wheel support member for lateral swinging movement, a pair of rear wheels mounted on said frames adjacent the rear ends thereof,

collapsible bracing means connecting the rear end portions of said frames to hold the same spread apart, a handle comprising 'two tubular members which are pivotally connected to said side frames for swinging movement between a rearwardly extending operative position and a forwardly extending collapsed position, said members being pivotally connected together adjacent their outer ends, whereby the inner ends thereof are permitted to move together with said side frames, a pair of spring'pressed detents slidably disposed within said tubular members adjacent the inner ends thereof, said detents being engageable with companionate members on Said side frames to lock said handle in said operative position, and a c pull cord connected at each end to one of said swinging movement, each detents, said cord extending through the hollow interior of said tubular members and from one member to the other through openings adjacent the outer end of the handle, whereby to provide an exposed portion that can be grasped and pulled to release said detents from their respective companionate members.

5. A folding stroller comprising a pair of side frames pivotally connected at their front ends to a front wheel support member for lateral of said frames including a tube bent to form vertically spaced, fore and aft extending top and bottom portions, a

pair of rear wheels mounted on said bottom pory tions-of-:thestubes:adj-acentlthe rear ends thereof, a'flexible seat bottom attached along its side edges `to :said top :portion of the tubes, a exible foot-rest attached ,along its side edges zto said bottom portion ofV the `tubes adjacentvthe front ends thereof, collapsible bracing means connecting therear ends of `saidside"frames t'ohold the same spread apart, and a `rearvmrdly extending handle connected to said side frames.

i6. Affolding stroller comprising ia pair of Vside frames .pivotally connected at Ytheir front ends to fa front .wheel support member for lateral swinging movement, each of said 'frames including .a -tube bent to form vertically spaced, ffore and v,aft vextending top and bottom portions connected attheir rear :ends -by rearwardly curved bumper portions, a pair-of vrear Wheels mounted on said bottomportions oflthe tubes ahead of said bumper portions, whereby when the rear Wheels vof the stroller are let down over a curb, said -bumper portions slidably engage theedge of the ycurb and serve as-runners, permitting ,the stroller .side frames to hold the same spread apartfand arearwardly extending handle connectedzto said side frames. l

EDGAR R. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES ITED The following references areof record inthe le of this patent:

`UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 699,186 Katzke May .6, 11902 1,064,538 Quickel June`10, 1913 2,120,425 Frey June A14:, 1938 `2,179,275 Sacheroff Nov.'7, 1939 2,296,193

Siebert Sept. 15, 194'2 

